Our paper’s system is really logical. We print Number Letter. We have to save our eps and send to press as Letter Number. Because…reasons.

FROM RANDY KECK:

We have a split personality on this issue. I had an editor several years ago who set it up as 8A, but I always felt it should be the other way around – section then page number (sort of like genus then species). So weeks, then months, then years go by, and we are still using 8A because that’s how our template is set up!

FROM JULIE HOLCOMBE:

At The Greer Citizen, we use A8, etc. In my mind, it makes sense because it follows an outline of sorts. But in truth, we probably do it that way because that’s the way it’s always been done.

Those are the responses so far. I’m allowing one more week to see if anyone else wants to join the discussion. And…maybe some of these responses will trigger reaction from others.

Next week, I’ll update…and offer my thoughts. Oh, yes, I definitely have some thoughts on this one!

Comments

We use the number/letter system: 1A, etc. There are times when we have two sections in the same issue (like our next issue), so the sections will be labeled 1A-8A and 1B-4B. That caused another head-scratcher: Should the A or B section be the first insert? We’ve settled on regular paper, section A and section B in the center. PS: If I’m not mistaken, some newspaper designer planted the decision for us go with the number/letter approach.

We use the 8A style. I like this method when RIPping pages. It is most important to pair the page numbers for proper page imposition. The letter then becomes the checksum for the section. First things first!

We use numbers through the sections – pages 1-10 for example are the first section and pages 11-20 are the second section. Mastheads for the Front page and the Sports section are put on pages 1 and 11 respectively. The template is made that way; and we haven’t changed it.